target banana costume

My dog Bonnie will be wearing a banana costume tomorrow. This is fitting because she is quite long. As you can see (by her expression in the photo) she was not thrilled when C and I arrived home, bag in hand, attacked her (in her opinion), and forced the banana "hat" on. I must admit that her ears were a bit squished. She sort of stood there... frozen... with that expression which is at once confusion and horror wrapped up in each other. But no, there was no escape. At least not until a few pictures had been snapped. And the words "Awwwww look at the cute banana" had been uttered over and over again with fake sympathetic overtones. She must love us a lot. She is after all... a very cute banana.

married!

I am a married woman. For an entire month. Though I've been coming home to C since January, coming home to "our house" has had an entirely different meaning since we got back from our honeymoon. I suppose because now... it actually is OUR house.

Waking up together, cooking dinner for each other, and coming home to a friend are some of the most rewarding things about being married. I find myself smiling because I get to have this forever. But with great bounty comes the fear of great loss, and since we've been married I find myself reminded now and again of how vulnerable I am to the loss of this man I love. It's a bummer I try not to think about.

Everyone always jokes, and so do we, that years from now we'll hate each other. But I am persistent, and I rarely settle for less, so I hope that we will continue to be honest and respectful of each other even as the once charming attributes become tiresome. This is my hope anyway. At the moment,I have no reason not to believe that we will be an unstoppable team. Realists as we are though... we know we have a wonderful and sometimes long road ahead.

For now, I will go to bed dreaming of the various "firsts" this holiday season has in store for our new little family. Pumpkin carving, a Thanksgiving feast with friends, a Christmas together with our own tree and ornaments. And, a New Year... as husband and wife. :)

his wedding ring

Somedays I can't believe I am getting married.  But today, after several phone calls to FedEx, I finally came home to find my husband-to-be's wedding ring in an unmarked box, under the doormat (as if no one was going to see it there - ha!), on my front porch.  I won't begin to explain what it took to get it there (or why it was there, unguarded, instead of in the leasing office where is should have been).  But, I will say that Blue Nile has the best customer service I have ever experienced.  Buy all of your jewelry from them.  FedEx... not so much. 

After bringing the box inside and sitting down on the couch, I was immediately distracted by my dog Bonnie.  She likes to say hello when I first get home, and no matter how excited I am, I usually don't deny her the pleasure.  Getting back to the box... the ring inside was perfect. A simple 5mm platinum band with a small inscription on the inside.   I have to admit I really struggled with what to write.  I wanted the message to still be meaningful 50 years from now... but I only had 27 characters.  Yes, just 27.  Since I have no idea what our relationship will be like in 50 years, I figured I'd express what I HOPE it will be like.  This was the best option, something corny is just not Christian's style... so I settled upon... 

"for my love, my best friend"

I like it, for now.  Will I like it in 50 years... who knows.  The inscription doesn't look too deep... maybe he'll wear it down in 20 and we can pick something new :)